Get started or improve your skills on the trails, hills, crags or mountains

Summer Camps For Young People (12-17)

On our summer camps for young outdoor enthusiasts (aged 12-17) our courses focus on providing maximum enjoyment whilst learning and developing your outdoor skills. To make sure you get the most from your course, alongside a week of all-day skills development, we also run a series of informal evening activity sessions. With the entire site dedicated to young people, you'll learn new skills, see new places and make lots of new friends.

Take your first steps or develop your outdoor skills on the lakes, rivers or sea

Summer Camps For Young People (12-17)

On our summer camps for young outdoor enthusiasts (aged 12-17) our courses focus on providing maximum enjoyment whilst learning and developing your outdoor skills. To make sure you get the most from your course, alongside a week of all-day skills development, we also run a series of informal evening activity sessions. With the entire site dedicated to young people, you'll learn new skills, see new places and make lots of new friends.

Free Kayak, Sea Kayak Or Canoe Hire On All Our Paddling Courses

When you come on a canoeing or kayaking course or holiday with us, you can borrow a kayak, canoe, paddle, helmet, spraydeck and any other kit you need free of charge. What's more, you can try out loads of boats to find out what suits you best. We have a huge range of the latest kayaks, sea kayaks and canoes in our fleet and you are welcome to try any of them. Find out more about our kayak and canoe fleet here.

Fast Track Instructor Scheme

Every year we are host to a team of committed individuals who have set their hearts on becoming outdoor instructors. Our Fast Track Insturctor trainees spend four months here at The National Mountain Centre learning from experts in every field, leaving us with a new career and a new direction.Think you'd like to join the Fast Track Scheme? Find out more here.

Courses Families & Children

Self Catering Accommodation

Our self catering accommodation units make a great destination for a family holiday in the mountains. Moelwyn Cottage sleeps 16 and Bryn Engan Cottage sleeps up to 20 people in a warm, clean, comfortable bunkhouse style arrangement. If you'd rather be a little more upmarket Bryn Engan Farmhouse has 12 single, en-suite rooms and every home comfort you could wish for. You can add on activities and catered meals as you desire. Find out more here.

Breaks and Activities for Groups

Superior School Experiences

If you want the very best residential activity experience for your school, there's no better choice than the National Mountain Sports Centre. Enjoy the highest standard of instruction, equipment, food and accommodation. Let us work out a program that's ideal for your school.Find out more here.

Christmas Parties

If your idea of a perfect Christmas party is great food, a stunning location and incredible views, then Plas y Brenin is the place for you. Find out more here.

Accommodation For Groups

Our self catering accommodation units make a highly affordable destination for your group adventures. Moelwyn Cottage sleeps 16 and Bryn Engan Cottage sleeps up to 20 people in a warm, clean, comfortable bunkhouse style arrangement. If you'd rather move upmarket, Bryn Engan Farmhouse has 12 single, en-suite rooms and every home comfort you could wish for. You can add on meals, activities, and conference facilities as you desire. Find out more here.

Intermediate Sea Kayaking

Course Overview

A week long course for paddlers who want to improve their kayak handling and rough water skills, as well as boost their experience of practical and theoretical seamanship and navigation. More importantly this week will take you on a tour of some of the finest coastal trips the UK has to offer, broadening your experience and making sure you get the most out of each spectacularly scenic journey.

Experience Required

sea kayaking experience in a range of sea states up to force four winds and a good level of fitness that would enable you to paddle 15-20 miles per day.

Scheduled Dates

Detailed Course Notes

You should be 18 years old to attend this course.

Who is it for?

This course is aimed at paddlers with some kayaking experience in tidal waters. You should already have sea kayak control skills, and be able to:

Paddle a sea kayak heading into, across and down a moderate wind

Paddle a straight course and turn the boat using edge control and lean rather than merely paddle strokes

Have effective support strokes and be able to cope with moderate seas

This is a teaching course with some technical and practical input.

Course Content

Once we have got used to the boats and assessed the group's needs, we will undertake several journeys by sea kayak. Whilst journeying, we intend to look at the following areas:

Refine the foundation sea kayak handling skills

Weather prediction

Route planning

Rolling

Rescues

Tidal planning and navigation

Weather awareness

Safety

Equipment

The programme obviously depends on weather and sea conditions. However all coaching will be based around coastal journeys and crossings.

Useful Books

The following books may be of interest to you before or after you come on the course.

Sea Kayaking by John Dowd
Sea Kayak Navigation by Franco Ferrero
A Practical Guide to Sea Kayaking by Jeffs, Mansell and Stamp

What's Included In The Price?

Whether you choose to stay with us or you have alternative accommodation nearby, the following items are included in the total cost.

Free tea, coffee or selected hot drinks for the duration of your visit

Afternoon tea & homemade cakes

Instruction/coaching

Kayak or canoe hire

Secure boat storage (if you choose to bring your own boat)

Equipment hire

Free (low-speed) wifi access in the bar & dining room

In course transport

Railway station pick up & drop off (please call to arrange)

Parking with CCTV surveillance

Free use of climbing wall, gym, MTB skills course & rolling pool

If you choose to stay with us, these items are also included in the total cost:

Accommodation the night before your course

Accommodation during your course

Breakfast & evening meal

Bar Lunch/packed lunch

Accommodation For This Course

Plas y Brenin Main House

Your course is based at Plas y Brenin, The National Mountain Sports Centre in Capel Curig, North Wales, LL24 0ET.

If you are staying with us,

If you have chosen to add accommodation onto this course or holiday it is usually in the main house in a comfy en-suite room (normally shared with another guest). Each room has tea and coffee making facilities and all bed linen and towels are provided.

This includes accommodation the night before your first day. Your room will be available from 6pm. On your last day you will need to vacate your room by 10am. It is sometimes possible to arrange to stay an extra night please phone 01690 720214 for availability and cost.

Secure storage facilities, showers and toilets are available for you to use on your departure day once you have checked out of your room should you need them, please ask at reception.

Also included, if you chosen to add accommodation, are all your meals - breakfast, packed lunch, afternoon tea and freshly baked cakes and a three course evening meal. Please bear in mind an evening meal is not provided on the night before your course or on the last day of your course but our bar will be serving meals from 7.00pm until 8.45pm.

If you are are not staying with us but coming in each day,

If you choose to come in daily for your course or holiday you will need to arrive ready for a 9am welcome talk on the first day. For the rest of your course or holiday you will need to be here for 9.15am. We return from a full day of activity, usually in time for tea and cakes at 5pm (included).

There are more activities from 5.30 - 6.30 on some days of your course or holiday, please check on the first day.

For most of our awards and qualification courses there will be further evening sessions on some days which you need to attend, please check on the first day.

The following items are available for you to borrow from our equipment stores free of charge so you don't need to rush out and buy them.

Wetsuit

Paddling cag

Buoyancy aid

Helmet

Dry bag

Large kit bag (for wet paddling kit)

Boat

Paddle

Spraydeck (if kayaking)

Our equipment stores stock wetsuits socks, noseclips and ear plugs which you can purchase if you find you need them during your course

Customer Reviews For This Course

Breezy week...

Mark Watlow

Very enjoyable course.
Weather was fairly rough, yet instructor managed to find options appropriate to the ability of the group.
Came away feeling I had learned new theory & mastered new skills, as well as cementing already existing knowledge & skills.
Leader was knowledgeable, approachable & supportive in his leadership
Food was great.
Beds a bit small & mattresses not the most comfortable.
I will be returning for further courses & would recommend you to others.

Much more than expected

Jeremy

What a great five days. Paddling around different parts of Anglesey. A mix of weather conditions and sea states. Learn't about planning a paddle having backup plans If conditions changed, been flexible.
The course included an overnight camp. I thought I was to old and grumpy for camping but loved every minute.
PYB centre was perfect great food and accommodation. The bar was a great place to swap stories about your day with other coarses.
To sum up fun, challenging and a real boost of confidence.
Many thanks to James B and fellow paddlers for a memorable 5 days can't wait to do it again!

Great weekend sea kayaking at pyb.

Steve Jolly

very enjoyable course relaxed and informative, Karl mainlaine top instructor. had all the answers, let us progress at a nice pace. the sea trips were a delight. food and accomodation surperb.
will book again for another weekend of fun and excitement on the waves.

Excellent Week

Alison Prtichard

A really enjoyable week. Lots of rough water (that seemed too rough at times) which under Dave's expert tuition was overcome.

It has really improved my confidence in moderate seas, and I'll be back next year for more!

Not found what you were looking for?

You can hire one of our coaches instructors or guides from only £250 per day. They'll tailor the day to suit your aims and aspirations perfectly.
You can enjoy one to one coaching for that cost or if you get together as a group, depending on the activity, you can split that cost between up to 6 of you. If you are a group we can run any of our courses on a date that suits you and your friends. Or you could just write your own agenda for a week or weekend and we'll price it up for you - with or without accommodation. What's more, just like out normal course fees, our private instructor hire charge covers all your equipment too.
Click on the link below to fill in a request form and one of our coaches will call you back (or e-mail if you'd prefer) to discuss things in detail with you.